Melbourne Magistrates' Court Excursion

During our Legal Studies field excursion, we visited the Magistrates’ Court, where we went through security screening before being escorted to the sixth floor by a registrar. We received an overview of the court’s processes and specialisations, such as the Koori Court and the Drug Court, which cater to specific needs in the justice system. Magistrate Vincenzo Caltabiano shared his experiences, explaining the importance of legal knowledge for aspiring lawyers and the role of connections in advancing a legal career. He illustrated his journey from barrister and legal aid worker to magistrate and underscored the weight of responsibility in judicial decision-making. This opening discussion highlighted how courts, through diverse magistrates and support structures, work to ensure fair access to justice for all Victorians.

After the initial discussion, we observed actual cases to understand how the Magistrates’ Court functions daily. During the visit, we observed two cases, each demonstrating the court's role in ensuring accountability and fair legal processes. The first case in the Family Violence Court involved severe allegations, including armed robbery and threats, where the magistrate ultimately referred the case to the County Court due to its severity. The second case, seen in the Mentions Court, involved driving offences to which the defendant pleaded guilty. We observed a distinct difference in the pacing and atmosphere of the Family Violence and Mentions courts, reflecting the gravity and nature of each case. This underscored how the justice system tailors its approach to address specific societal issues, protecting the community by managing a wide spectrum of cases with focused legal procedures.

To conclude, Magistrate Caltabiano rejoined us for further questions. He discussed the importance of resilience in the legal profession, noting that professionals have access to psychologists to help manage the emotional toll of certain cases. He shared insights into the hidden aspects of the judicial system, like the underground holding cells, providing a deeper perspective on how the system functions to uphold safety and order. Overall, the excursion emphasised the crucial role the Magistrates’ Court plays in the Victorian justice system, processing most cases and protecting the community by maintaining an accessible, responsive, and fair legal framework.

-Arnav Rai and Cherub Sandhu

Year 11 Students